FCCLA hosting special meal before North Tama Swing Show

March 8, 2013

Singing? Check. Dancing? Check. An old-fashioned good time? You betcha. The annual Swing Show presented by North Tama High School will be held Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15, at 7 p.m., with a special meal and bake sale presented by the North Tama FCCLA preceding the Thursday performance.

A special dance solo will also be performed by Abby Kopriva, as well as a piano solo by Robert Young. In keeping with the tradition of variety, a cello solo will be performed by Jamie Huntley.

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The North Tama Dance Team, which placed third at the most recent state competition, will be featured in the audience-favorite coed dance.

In addition, the chorus will be performing well-known classics like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Can't Stop the Beat." The North Tama band will perform "Dream On" and other hits as well. There will be skits galore to keep the audience entertained throughout the evening.

In addition to the Swing Show, the FCCLA will be hosting a fundraiser meal for the Gift of Life Transplant House on Thursday evening from 5 to 6:45 p.m. with a bake sale.

The menu will consist of burgers, hot dogs, relishes, chips, cookies and beverages and costs just $5. Free will donations will also be accepted to help out the Gift of Life Transplant House. Gift of life is a special home for people to stay while they are undergoing transplants-be it a lung, heart, kidney, or liver. The idea of the Gift of Life House is to provide a home-like environment for people undergoing difficult times.

The North Tama FCCLA decided to raise funds for the Gift of Life as it became the home for Bonnie Kopriva, a resident of rural Traer, for five weeks in the fall of 2012. Kopriva was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the spring of 2012 and underwent a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

While a patient at Mayo, Kopriva was able to remain close to the hospital by staying at the Gift of Life House, allowing her to have easier access to treatment and a warm and welcoming atmosphere where she could be with her family on a daily basis without traveling.

"Both my doctor and a very good friend recommended the Gift of Life and it worked out to be a great place to stay," Kopriva said. "The 48-room house allowed me to stay close to the hospital without having to be in the hospital."

The Gift of Life Transplant House offers accomodations that include kitchens, dining rooms and a healthy environment for many patients, which is why the North Tama FCCLA would like to encourage residents to get out and show their support during the meal on Thursday, March 14.

Carry-outs will be available, and baked goods are always welcome for the bake sale. Please contact Janice Halupnick, North Tama FCCLA adviser, at 319-478-2265, ext. 203, for more information on this wonderful event!